Info on Denver School of Nursing

OakRNland, BSN · Mar 10, 2010

Alice, I had the same question, I'd never seen an application process like this and it's a little confusing. I was also reading about there placement test.

An applicant's placement into any program start date is based on the date of the successful completion of the entrance exam (HESI A2 cost $35); all application paperwork completed and reviewed and receipt of the $50 application fee. Only during the application interview will a time be scheduled for the entrance test.

My questions is, do I need to take the HESI before my interview because it says placement into any program is based on the date of the successful completion of the entrance exam? so do I want to get this done ASAP or does this test come after my interview?? And from the sounds of it, it's hard to get a live person. sounds like getting concert tickets.

Thanks for any input :)

Kell29 · Mar 16, 2010

The first step is to get through on the phone on the date you can call. I started calling at 8am and did not get through until around 10am. So, just keep calling and calling and calling until you actually speak with Jeff or Kelly. It does feel like calling a radio station, I felt like I was probably annoying the heck out of them hitting redial so much.

After you get through on the phone, you will set up an interview date. During that interview they will go over your unofficial transcripts to see if you have met the requirements for whichever program you wish to get into. Once that is complete in the interview they will tell you when to take the HESI. I took mine the next day with a lot of other people.

When you finish the HESI exam, you go right away to Kelly or Jeff's office and they will meet with you about your results. If you passed and there is still room in the class, you will be accepted!

It sounds confusing but the whole process was pretty simple. Hope that helped!

OakRNland, BSN · Mar 16, 2010

Thanks so much Kelly, very helpful, I'll be calling like a mad woman I guess on April 1st. 8am too, which is 9am colorado time.

Does anyone know if the HESI similar to the TEAS?

boulderco · Mar 17, 2010

I'm not trying to be a total downer here but this is the info I have... I'm in the accelerated program at CU-Denver and overheard a conversation between a clinical instructor and staff/students. This clinical instructor (the hospital shall remain nameless) said to tell friends not to go to DSON, that it would "take an act of legislation" to get DSON accreditation through (they are accredited as a technical school only) and that DSON will never be accredited. Furthermore, she said that many hospitals WILL NOT hire DSON graduates, except for those that are already working at the hospitals as CNAs, etc. and are "grandfathered in". This instructor is a very well respected professor at one of the local colleges as well as on clinical faculty at her hospital. She seemed to think that DSON will never have an accreditation as a higher learning institution. No judgement from me, just FYI. It's hard enough to get a job as it is when you graduate, I would imagine it would be even harder with a degree from DSON and not Regis/Metro/UCSHC.

pjsmom · Mar 18, 2010

It seems to me that this well respected instructor is quite a gossip. School bashing by any professor at any school is completely unprofessional IMO.

albpreemieRN · Mar 20, 2010

http://www.nlnac.org/Forms/candidacy.asp

http://www.ncahlc.org/?option=com_directory&Action=ShowBasic&instid=2886

I'm glad your "well respected" professor is so concerned with what DSN is doing. Maybe she ought to check these websites out....

Bre1286 · Mar 29, 2010

Just some info I found really useful guys. All you need to know is on their website. As of today DSN is not regionally accredited by the HLC and they are not nationally accredited by the NLNAC. Which means that you cant transfer any degrees DSN gives you to any other college, they will not accept it. HLC is the big accreditation. Also they don't have the NLNAC which they cant have until they have regional. Plus go look at their most recent NCLEX pass rate, only 30%. I have advisors from all colleges I've considered for nursing school strongly advise me against going there and have had the hiring manager at the hospital I work for tell me they will not hire DSN graduates. Just fyi.

albpreemieRN · Mar 30, 2010

I'm really confused, where are you getting a 30% pass rate?

http://www.dora.state.co.us/nursing/education/RN-PassRates.pdf

Bre1286 · Mar 30, 2010

It was posted on the DSN website. I went to pull the link and its gone. I am 100% sure of this. It was not there overall NCLEX pass rate but the last class that graduated from DSN I believe it said January 2010. I'm not sure why they pulled except perhaps they were unhappy with it, then why post it in the first place? I'm sure it will show up on the dora website at some point though.

lovelittleton · Mar 31, 2010

Hello! I was wondering if anyone knew of a different phone number to call, besides the main number, to get through to a live person. I plan on calling tomorrow morning and thought I would ask! :) Thanks for your help!

cocogirl · Mar 31, 2010

I believe it depends on which program you are calling for. I would call them today and they will give you the number of the person you are to call in the morning. Good luck!

lovelittleton · Mar 31, 2010

Thanks :)